Adjustable Compartment

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for vertically adjusting a lockable compartment contains vertical supports which house an embedded drive track with a cable and pulley system to propel the adjustable compartment to a plurality of levels within the physical dimensions of the structural frame. The engagement of an external signal with a receiver triggers the electric gearmotor assembly to activate the cable and pulley system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a lockable compartment mounted on a frame.

BACKGROUND

There are currently no solutions available nor prior art for accessible adjustable storage and shelving which do not require additional stools and ladders for users. Safe retrieval of items by the elderly or otherwise impaired is therefore difficult.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Represented advantages of the embodiments of the present invention will be readily understood by one skilled in the art by following the specification as outlined in conjunction with the appended claims with reference to the drawings, cited herein:

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of the apparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows alternative embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a frontal view of an embodiment illustrating the lockable adjustable compartment at a mechanically lowered horizontal level according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a frontal view of the apparatus showing the internal cavity of the lockable adjustable compartment according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a lateral view of the electric gearmotor and wireless receiver according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an interior view of the spring latch assembly of the lockable adjustable compartment according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a more detailed view of a vertical support and the components that may be attached thereto, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates the alternative embodiment showing the shelf and compartment partially lowered.

FIG. 10 provides an exploded view of the storage compartment in the alternative embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the alternative embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 provides the user with a shelf 18 and lockable adjustable compartment 16 attached to a pair of vertical supports 14. An electric gearmotor (discussed in greater detail below) may be housed in a chassis 12 and drives a cable-pulley arrangement, where one cable end is attached to a drive shaft or spooling rod 22. The cable runs up from spooling rod 22 through one of the vertical supports 14, over a pulley housed in top member 28, and back down to compartment 16. The spooling rod 22 may be turned by the gearmotor. This spools or unspools the cable, which raises or lowers compartment 16. This permits a range of vertical movements of the compartment 16. In an embodiment, the gearmotor may be controlled by a remotely generated radio frequency (RF) signal, which may be received through an electronic circuit such as an RF receiver and antenna 30. The apparatus 10 (and compartment 16 in particular) can store items. In an embodiment, compartment 16 is lockable. The adjustable compartment 16 is a box-like assembly, the upper surface of which may serve as a shelf 18. Compartment 16 may have a base panel (not visible), vertical side panels 70, and a back panel (not visible). Additionally, vertical supports 14 may feature support feet 20 which provide stability to the structure, according to an embodiments. Also illustrated, attached to the lower and upper ends of the vertical supports 14 are diagonally affixed crossbars 26, which may add stability to the apparatus 10. In alternative embodiments, crossbars 26 may not be necessary. At the upper end of the vertical support beams 14 are top members 28, according to an embodiment. Support and stability may be further provided by a horizontal bar 24 in addition to the crossbars 26.

In FIG. 2, the posterior view of the adjustable compartment illustrates the vertical supports 14 attached to support feet 20, the two diagonally affixed crossbars 26, and the back panel 68 of compartment 16, according to an embodiment. The embodiment as illustrated may be attached to a wall, providing further support.

As shown in FIG. 3, the compartment 16 is adjustable in height, and is shown here at an approximate mid-point. In an embodiment, the chassis 12 houses the electric gearmotor which will be discussed below. The apparatus comprises vertical supports 14 and diagonally affixed crossbars 26. The crossbars 26, vertical supports 14, and feet 20 may be of any suitable material(s) having the strength to support the adjustable compartment 16. The chassis 12 housing the electrical gearmotor may be secured to the vertical support beam 14 and/or secured to at least one of the support feet 20 which lie in a frontally facing position and serve as stabilizing elements.

FIG. 3 also illustrates, in one embodiment, a receiver 30 that may receive an externally generated wireless or wired signal, e.g., from a user's remote control, which can initiate, stop, and otherwise control the electric gearmotor's activity. FIG. 3 also illustrates the adjustable compartment 16 with the lateral portions 70 affixed on both sides. The adjustable compartment 16 may be covered with the shelf portion 18, and may be slidably affixed to the two vertical support beams 14. The adjustable compartment 16 may include a generally rectangular frame defined by a base panel member (not visible), generally vertical side panels 70 and a back panel (not visible). One or more top member 28 may house a pulley, which may be disposed as a single unit within one or both vertical support beams 14.

One potential example of the frame which supports the adjustable compartment is depicted in FIG. 4, which, in one embodiment, may be comprised of the diagonally affixed crossbars 26, connected to the top and bottom of the vertical support beams 14. The diagonally affixed crossbars 26 are attached to the pair of vertical support beams 14 to restrain the compartment from lateral motion.

FIG. 4 demonstrates an alternate view of the shelf 18 of the compartment removed to expose the storage space of the adjustable compartment 16.

FIG. 5 illustrates, in one embodiment, a spooling bar 22 which may serve as one end of the cable-pulley system. The adjustable compartment 16 may be transported up and down by the cable-pulley arrangement. One end of the cable runs over a pulley, e.g., an idler pulley, which may also provide tensioning, where the pulley resides in a top member 28. The cable may be contained in the interior of the vertical support 14, from spooler bar 22 up and over the idler pulley at the top of the vertical support beam 14. The far end of the cable may be attached to the compartment 16 or another component attached thereto. The gearmotor 34 may rotate the spooler bar 22, spooling or unspooling the cable depending on the direction of rotation, resulting in the vertical adjustment (i.e., movement) of compartment 16.

The gearmotor 34 may be powered by the output of a direct current power supply that is in turn powered by household alternating current. The electrical gearmotor 34 may be housed in the chassis 12 according to an embodiment. As noted above, the gearmotor 34 may be controlled by a remote control signal sent by a user's remote device and received by an electronic circuit, e.g, a receiver equipped with antenna 30.

Embodiments may also include a latching mechanism to secure the shelf 18 to the compartment 16. This is illustrated in FIG. 6, according to an embodiment. A latch 38 inside the compartment 16 may be mobilized by a spring 40. The latch 38 may enable secure closure of the compartment 16 and may be coupled with a lock mechanism. In an embodiment, the latch and lock may be commercially available components.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, at least one vertical support beam 14 contains a drive track 44 built in to the vertical support 14, which houses the cable-pulley arrangement. One or more pulleys operate the cable along a drive track 44, where the cable is propelled by the electric gearmotor 34. The compartment 16 may be attached on either side to a sliding shelf bracket 46, to which the far end of the cable is attached. Activation of the gearmotor spools or unspools the cable, which lowers or raises the shelf bracket 46 to which the compartment 16 is attached.

Other embodiments are also possible within the scope of the description herein. In an embodiment, the vertical supports may attach to the support feet at the center of the support feet rather than at the rear of the feet. Moreover, the vertical supports may attach to the compartment towards the center of the compartment sides, rather than at the rear of the compartment. Such an embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 8-11.

As FIG. 8 illustrates, each of the vertical supports may have an upper portion 814 a and lower portion 814 b. During installation, these may be connected to create each vertical support. The connection may be facilitated by a bracket 815 that allows connectivity and support. By having separable upper and lower portions, transportation and storage of the apparatus is simplified when the apparatus is not installed. At the base of each vertical support is a foot 820. Attached to one of the feet 820 is a chassis 812 containing a gearmotor and a receiver 830, which may function in a manner similar to that described in the previous embodiment. Also as before, the apparatus may include a storage compartment 816 and a shelf 818. Vertical side panels 870 may be located on either side of shelf 818; a back panel 868 may be located at the back of shelf 818. Note that in the illustrated embodiment, diagonal crossbars may not be necessary.

This embodiment is further illustrated in FIG. 9. Here the shelf 818 and compartment 816 are shown in a partially lowered position. As noted here (and discussed above with respect to the earlier embodiment, the shelf 818 and compartment 816 may be raised and lowered, where the positioning may be driven by a gearmotor that is controlled by a wireless or wired remote control. In some use cases, this raising and lowering may allow a user easier access to the contents of the compartment 816 and/or to anything stored on shelf 818. Also shown is a rear bracket 819 that may be attached to the vertical supports and may extend backwards. In an embodiment, the rear bracket 819 may be used to mount the apparatus to a wall.

FIG. 10 includes an exploded view of the compartment 816, showing the interior storage space therein. As noted, the compartment 816 may be lockable by securing shelf 818 to the compartment 816. In an embodiment, any conventional lock known to persons of skill in the art may be used, and is not shown here. Unlocking the compartment 816 may allow direct removal of the shelf 818 as shown here; alternatively, shelf 818 may be attached to the compartment 816 with a hinge, such that unlocking the compartment 816 may allow the shelf 818 to swing open to reveal the storage space. Such a hinge may be placed at the back, front, or either side of shelf 818.

FIG. 11 provides a rear view of the apparatus. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear bracket 819 is shown. As discussed above, the rear bracket 819 may be used to attach the apparatus to a wall. In the embodiment illustrated, rear bracket 819 is shown with optional pre-drilled holes for ease of installation. The feet 820 may also represent or incorporate brackets that allow the apparatus to be screwed to the floor.

It should be noted that other embodiments may include various components taken from the different embodiments disclosed here. For example, the shelf and compartment shown in FIG. 1 may be used with the apparatus shown in FIG. 8 instead of the shelf and compartment shown in the latter figure. Similarly, the shelf and compartment shown in FIG. 8 may be used with the apparatus of FIG. 1.

Different embodiments of the apparatus described herein may have different dimensions. Some embodiments may be configured to fit inside a closet, for example. Other embodiments may be configured to be mounted to any interior wall. Still other embodiments may be free-standing. The overall height of the apparatus may be from 36 to 66 inches for example; the overall width may be from 24 to 48 inches. These dimension ranges are examples only, and are not meant to be limiting. Those skilled in the art may appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments of the present creative idea can be manipulated to include variations in size and construction.

A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other configurations and arrangements can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that this invention can also be employed in a variety of other systems and applications. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A vertically-adjustable lockable compartment apparatus comprising: a pair of vertical supports; a lockable compartment configured to move along the pair of vertical supports; a motor assembly configured to move the lockable compartment vertically and attached to the vertical supports; an electronic circuit configured to control the motor assembly; and one or more pulleys and cables attached to the motor assembly and the compartment and configured to move the lockable compartment while propelled by the motor assembly.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to be fixed to a wall.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lockable compartment is supported by the vertical supports.
 4. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the motor assembly is connectedly attached to a base of at least one of the vertical supports.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the motor assembly comprises a gearmotor and the electronic circuit.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the electronic circuit comprises a wireless connection to remotely facilitate compartment movement.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more pulleys is contained in at least one of the vertical supports.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the pulleys comprise an idler pulley.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the lockable compartment is affixed to a track in at least one of the vertical supports, using at least one respective sliding shelf bracket.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vertical supports are connected by at least one horizontal bar attached to one or more of a top and base of each vertical support.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lockable compartment comprises a spring-loaded latch.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vertical supports each contain at least one track with the lockable compartment connected to the tracks through at least one respective sliding bracket.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cable is propelled by gearmotor under the control of the electronic circuit.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the gearmotor assembly is retained in at least one closed portion of a leg assembly.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein a drive shaft is rotated by the gearmotor.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the cable comprises a first cable end and a second cable end, wherein the first cable end is fixed to the drive shaft and the second cable end is fixed to a sliding bracket via an idler pulley.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a first and a second diagonal support bar wherein the first diagonal support bar is affixed to the top of a first vertical support and the bottom of a second vertical support, and the second diagonal support bar is affixed to the top of the second vertical support and the bottom of the first vertical support.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the electronic circuit is connected electrically to the gearmotor and connected wirelessly to a remote control, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to receive commands from the remote control and to control the gearmotor according to the commands. 